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At Southeastern Youth Fair, brothers bond over barbecue

With his mascot bunny on the table, Jeptha Tirado barbeques rabbit in the Dave Baillie Bar-B-Q Contest during the Southeastern Youth Fair at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. Tirado is deaf and was competing along with his brother, Richard Morris.

Published: Monday, February 18, 2013 at 9:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 18, 2013 at 9:16 p.m.

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The brothers recently found they could compete together as members of 4-H and were among nearly a dozen others showing off their skills at the Southeastern Youth Fair barbecue contest on Monday.

It was a big deal for the brothers, particularly since Jeptha, 14, is autistic and deaf.

“A lot of clubs and other organizations turned him down. They couldn't accommodate him. But here there was no problem,” said Cassandra Morris, the boys' mother.

Monday was not the first barbecue contest they entered. Recently, the pair entered the barbecue part of the Sears 4-H Poultry Show in Ocala.

They showed up with a pair of galvanized steel buckets and a grill top.

“We didn't have the money to buy them barbecues so we looked up how to make a homemade grill and there were plans for everything, even a wheelbarrow. We didn't have a wheelbarrow, but I did have garden buckets,” Morris said.

In that show, Richie, 12, won his division and Jeptha finished third. They both won new grills for their efforts.

The tabletop grills were in use during Monday's contest.

Jeptha cooked rabbit, while Richie cooked chicken.

The pair made their marinade and rub from scratch and the recipe for the barbecue sauce came from their grandmother.

“I like it because it's something me and my brother can do together and interact more instead of just playing video games together,” Richie said.

Morris said she was elated that Jeptha could experience the social aspects of the competition.

<p>Jeptha Tirado and Richie Morris share a love of barbecue.</p><p>The brothers recently found they could compete together as members of 4-H and were among nearly a dozen others showing off their skills at the Southeastern Youth Fair barbecue contest on Monday.</p><p>It was a big deal for the brothers, particularly since Jeptha, 14, is autistic and deaf.</p><p>“A lot of clubs and other organizations turned him down. They couldn't accommodate him. But here there was no problem,” said Cassandra Morris, the boys' mother.</p><p>Monday was not the first barbecue contest they entered. Recently, the pair entered the barbecue part of the Sears 4-H Poultry Show in Ocala.</p><p>They showed up with a pair of galvanized steel buckets and a grill top.</p><p>“We didn't have the money to buy them barbecues so we looked up how to make a homemade grill and there were plans for everything, even a wheelbarrow. We didn't have a wheelbarrow, but I did have garden buckets,” Morris said.</p><p>In that show, Richie, 12, won his division and Jeptha finished third. They both won new grills for their efforts.</p><p>The tabletop grills were in use during Monday's contest.</p><p>Jeptha cooked rabbit, while Richie cooked chicken.</p><p>The pair made their marinade and rub from scratch and the recipe for the barbecue sauce came from their grandmother.</p><p>“I like it because it's something me and my brother can do together and interact more instead of just playing video games together,” Richie said.</p><p>Morris said she was elated that Jeptha could experience the social aspects of the competition.</p><p>“It's good for him. He and Richie are really close,” she said.</p><p>The pair barbecue at least once a week.</p><p>“It helps my mom. That way she doesn't have to always cook,” he said.</p><p>Richie hopes to one day become a professional barbecue competitor.</p>